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Cha-Ching: New OS X Quicken Killer

phillryu.com — There's a new app for OS X called Cha-Ching, and even at version 0.2, it's looking like a promising alternative to the horrendous mac version of Quicken. Here's hoping development goes strong on this one!

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zcohan 2 years 48 days ago, made popular 2 years 48 days ago

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Who Dugg It?

fcuk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17I bought this after trying it for about 5 seconds. I've been looking for an app like this forever.
- liquidrums, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18If it can't grab my latest records from my bank's website, than any "quicken killer" is out of the running, atleast for me.
  
  I use Quicken mainly to reconcile my checks and keep track of where most of my $$$ goes (hint: fiancé).
- Kazrog, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Quicken is horrible with bank data, if you sync up with your bank, it will almost always give you a negative balance in the thousands, which you have to reconcile by putting a fake transaction at the beginning of time. Until the banks figure out a standardized way to serve up ALL of your records (not just the last 90 days) we're going to struggle to ever have an app that easily synchronizes.
- angelp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12A Quicken killer should at least allow you to import records from your bank.....Just because it's pretty doesn't automatically make it a "Quicken Killer".
- ClassicJBC, on 10/12/2007, -2/+20Am I the only one who's getting really damn tired of seeing the word 'killer' after everything? iPod killers, MySpace killers, Microsoft killers, YouTube killers, and now we're down to "Quicken Killer." What's next... Notepad Killer?!
- neoform, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4Burried just for the use of the word "killer". I'm sick of that coined word.
- longofest, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6It's useless (for me, and I presume a lot of other people) unless it can import .qfx files from banks or .qif files from Quicken itself. Nice presentation, but too light on the feature front for me. There comes a point where presentation can't hide a lack of features.
- bonchx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4These are the kinds of amazing apps Mac users are used to. I think Windows users would keel over from shock if they ever got anything as cool or beautiful as Delicious Library or apps like this. :)
- pmppk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Try MoneyDance for importing records straight from your bank's servers. Much better than Quicken on Mac, and it is cross-platform for Mac / Linux / Windows.
- brundlefly76, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11Leave it to a Mac user to qualify a 'future Quicken killer' with comments like:
  
  "I love the "piggybank" icon"
  "This is a very pretty, very "OS X" app"
  "tasteful use of superfluous visual effects"
  
  But my personal favorite:
  "it'd be cool to have secure, direct bank integration"
  
  Gee, ya think?
- iamcdn28, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Moneydance is the only Quicken Killer I've found so far.
- cviebrock, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3iSight photos to go with your transactions? Tagging your entries? Has this person ever done any serious financial work?
  
  iBank (http://www.iggsoftware.com/ibank/) seems to be a real Quicken "killer". Anyone tried it for extended periods of time?
- apersaud, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Quicken comes free with new macs... so I don't see if I should pay an extra $25 bucks. Especially since Quicken can also do stocks/investments...and account info straight from my bank.
victor_smithe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+22Link to the actual application website
http://www.chachingapp.com/
- ersnyder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Should someone really charge for something that is still in Beta? Isn't that a little backwards?
RDurfee, on 10/12/2007, -22/+7Couldn't they come up with a better name???
- nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Can you? Naming things can be hard.
- reknaps, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I like the name!
- TheLoweringTide, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4I don't know why this was dugg down; it's a valid concern and the first thing that came to mind for me as well. Money management applications are business utilities and are expected to have a certain professional polish about them. Cha-Ching is a fun, whimsical name that doesn't convey the sort of (admitedly bland) dependability most people associate with its ilk. Not that it's a deal breaker or anything - especially if it delivers on its promised functionality - but if the title puts someone off before they can even discover that functionality it's giving the application an unnecessary inital hurdle to overcome.
- DataPath, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1How about Economics 101, and up the course (version) number with each release?
- TimmyGUNZ, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I LOVE Moneydance. I switched to Moneydance after using Quicken and realizing just how much it sucked.
- altcountryman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Keeping track of money = accounting = something that most people consider about as much fun as playing 52-card-pickup with a six-deck shoe.*
  
  Cha-ching = fun, clever, this-is-easy-and cool-to-track-my-scrilla = takes the intimidation away from finance software.
  
  If this was an accounting program for small biz, it may not be a great name. For personal finance, it's pretty good. At least as good as anything else they could have come up with.
  
  * With a 6-deck shoe, it wouldn't technically be 52-card pick-up. This is why people need software to keep track of things involving numbers.
pmuse, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8I have been looking for an app like this forever.

The moment I can get out of Quicken's clutches will be incredibly liberating. I have had too many headaches trying to update Quicken and maintain my records/ transferring records to different computers.

Hopefully this will just work.
debtman7, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14While this looks like a great app and I might even buy it, I think calling it a quicken killer is a bit premature. For basic checkbook balancing, fine, but it has maybe 10% of the features quicken does at this point...
- drakethegreat, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Which is what most people probably want. I don't need the other 90% for personal finance. If I was running a business then maybe but then there is QuickBooks for that. I think this application will appeal for the same reason that regular people use all the iLife applications instead of the professional apps like Photoshop, Logic, Final Cut, etc.
- weareglass, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think people don't necessarily want all of Quicken's feature set, but most of us would seem to need more than Cha-Ching provides. When I get home from work, though, I plan on downloading it and checking it out fully. Looks fun.
  
  This is a perfect example of how the Mac shareware community is really kicking ass lately. I'm glad to see people get excited and purportedly put money back into the system, that helps the entire Mac-using community.
- DesiLinguist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I have tried this and almost all other so called "quicken killers" for the Mac and have not liked any of them. This app is very well designed and pretty but it lacks some very basic functionality that I want:
  
  (1) Managing multiple accounts (checking, savings, credit cards etc.)
  (2) Graphical description of expenditure (last week, month, year etc.)
  (3) Inter-account Transactions (using the checking account to pay a credit card balance)
  
  The only app I have found all of these in is called Buddi ( http://buddi.sf.net ). A very actively developed app and supports all of the above features and more (XML data format, data file encryption, backup/restore functionality). It's not as pretty as cha-ching and it's written in Java but it gets the job done very well.
  
  Of course, the fact that it's written in Java means that it's available to Windows and Linux users as well.
Feanor, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3I would love a Win32 port of something like this...I'm still saving up for my Mac...
jdryyz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5If it is intended to be a Quicken killer, it must be able to do one thing very good-- import Quicken data. I didn't see anything on their website about this. Anyone know if it will do this?
- pmuse, on 10/12/2007, -2/+33My past experiences with Quicken have lead me to believe Quicken can't even import Quicken data.
  
  So its at least on par.
zigamorph, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11This does look pretty cool but I wouldn't call it a Quicken killer until it gains the ability to download updates for you account from on line places. The ability to keep a portfolio of stocks, bonds, and whatever and keep them updated.
JaredRR, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11I see no way to import transactions from my bank... it's pretty, but it's not a Quicken killer yet.
- stinkstank, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Seriously . . why even bother releasing the app beta if you can't import transactions? And I don't see that it supports online bill payments.
  
  This seems like a digital check register. (Yes, I downloaded it).
  
  It looks nice, tho.
- joehobbes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2and/or import existing MS Money/Quicken files...
  It's a MUST have feature for anything serious.
HappyPig, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I agree, Quicken needs something to kill it, but this isn't it. Stocks? Bonds? Imported downloads? Sure - keep an eye on this, but if you're desparate for something to replace Quicken on the Mac NOW, use Moneydance or iBank.
loopymonkey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3http://www.iggsoftware.com/ibank/

Just as Happypig mentioned. It also does more. just not as pretty.
goodcompany, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I don't think this app is competing with Quicken actually, but it sure is perty. I like the icon and I think the name is just fine.
esullender, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I'm a big fan of Moneydance... OS X, Windows, OS/2, Linux, Unix, sparc....
- bytebreeder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This one is much more of a Quicken killer than this cha-ching product. Though still not quite there.
- julzmon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Thank you for pointing out this Moneydance app... This is much more of a Quicken killer then anything. What ever app I use it has to sync with my bank and I should be able to pay bills online through my bank... Right On!
- Feyr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1indeed i use moneydance too. it has its own limitations (hint; don't rely on the charts for anything serious) and performance issues, but for basic record keeping it's pretty good
truffleduffle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I agree with everyone else. Without online connectivity to financial institutions, it is not yet a quicken killer. I have not tried the app yet, but from the screen shots and descriptions of the program, it looks like it's more of a program to manage what you purchase and incoming money. Even though I'm not a big fan of quicken on Mac OS X, I will still probably use it in the foreseeable future for day to day checkbook balancing and managing of all of my different financial accounts.
bytebreeder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1As others have mentioned, this is by no means a Quicken killer. I would go as far to say that is an iBank killer (or even Microsoft Money, yes I know that is not os x). Cha-ching doesn't have such features as creating debt reduciton plans, or helping you save for a house, or as others have mentioned, being able to download data from banks online. Quicken is a standard with banks. It won't be killed until that changes. Plus, Quicken has loads of features not even mentioned above that are not in CC.
joebob2406, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wow. There must have definitely been some Delicious Library involvement in this app. There are many many features very similar to delivious. Even the window that asks if you want to try the demo is indentical to the Dellib one. Very cool because Delicious library is one of my fav apps. Quicken killer might have been pre-mature but guys, this is gonna be a great app for joe blow who just wants to take control of their finances. Fits so well into the mac scene. So pretty too :)
kloda, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Other alternatives to Quicken on the Mac are:

Moneydance (Mac, Windows, Linux): http://www.moneydance.com
iBank (Mac): http://www.iggsoftware.com/ibank/
BangoSkank, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4Wow, if Quicken loses all their Mac customers, their overall sales might drop by 1%. It is silly to say that this is a Quicken killer.
- JGuest, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Hey moron, read the title. "New OS X Quicken Killer". Not on every platform, OS X!!!!!
Chupathingy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Pretty, But I think I'll stick with GnuCash I installed through macports on my powerbook. I like to be able to import my Quicken files.
test5477, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It is pretty, but its very basic. I'll keep searching, maybe try that Gnucash?
noahhoward, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Marked as lame because you people need to quit calling everything a 'killer'. It's worse than my little brother thinking we're taking a shortcut every time you take a wrong turn.
- Raian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3How about: New OS X Quicken attempted murderer ?
Altotus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This is no Quicken killer. If you want something that does what Quicken does, but without the inane ads, links to intuit.com, etc., then you probably want MoneyDance (http://moneydance.com). MoneyDance is Java-based (so no nice Aqua UI), works identically on Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris, etc. It has connectors for online banking, can import data from Quicken and export to it, print checks, can manage stocks (including downloading prices and charting the changes), etc. Basically, if you know how to use Quicken, you pretty much know how to use it.

For $30, it's a great little app.
tpacyk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Nice eye candy, but yeah, it's hard to get away from Quicken with the automatic bank updates, 401k, stock portfolio, etc. Sadly, I think we'll be stuck with Quicken for a looooong time still. If all you need is basic checkbook abilities, this would be a great app for you.
richlin71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Checkbook" for OS X is the Quicken-killer app that I ditched Quicken for:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17307
nixfu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1

http://www.moneydance.com is awesome....it reminds me of the GOOD old versions of quicken.

I run it in Windows, Linux, OSX, and on my Solaris box too... automatically downloads/integrated billpay with my bank accounts too.
hjst, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It looks nice, but it seems to be another chequebook-balancing app. The only app I've found useful for figuring out how much money I need to set aside for things in advance (as well as tracking expenses etc. normally) is Budget:

http://www.snowmintcs.com/products/budgetmac/

It can import QIF files too (never used them, so I don't know how well it works).
AaRdVarK3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1http://www.liquidledger.com/

That's what I use to handle several bank accounts, credit cards, and expenses. It's simple, double entry accounting, and it's written in pure Cocoa. I just tried Cha-ching, and it's way to simplified for what I need.
dammit2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0This is probabbly why quicken is not preinstalled on new iMacs
Berkana, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2In order to really challenge Quicken, Cha-Ching needs to come up with an equivalent to TurboTax.

Quicken established its primacy through being doubly useful for taxes when used with Turbo Tax. This is the same way Microsoft Office achieved primacy even though Word Perfect was a better word processor from Novel/Corel's suite and Lotus 1-2-3 was a better spread sheet from Lotus' suite back in the day when there was still real competition in the office suite market.

If they come up with a good challenger to Turbo Tax, this application could seriously challenge Quicken. Until then, Quicken's market dominance will be pretty secure.

(As for competition to MS Office on the Mac, there's Mellel, which is a better word processor and costs a tiny fraction of what MS Word costs, and there's iWork, but that's not quite mature enough to really challenge Office.)
jcolson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I must say, MONEYDANCE: http://moneydance.com -- if you haven't looked at it in a while, go download it. Supports OFX (online banking) and runs on multiple operating systems!
JuyLe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Amazing app, hope the next updates will bring us more stability, reliability and cool features.
zero_bit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Finally iBank has some competition. Maybe the developer will get some fire under his rear and start updating the dang app.
wronski, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4You guys have to remember that this is version 0.2 (beta) and that there's still tons of stuff planned before the full version comes out ;-)
simplehiker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is nothing but 37 signals fanboy bandwagon programing hype. This program does nothing useful for tracking of real finances...
Keep track of your IOUs?
Take pictures of your DVD collection?
Catalog your internet purchases?
WHO CARES! If your worried about this stuff you have no clue about your finances.
enjourni, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The notion that this app is a quicken killer is rediculus. All I see is a camera app and keyword/smart-folder implimentation that the Web 2.0 fanboys can get a woody over. Have you people even used Quicken for windows? Do you have any idea how many features a new app would have to copy to even come close to Quicken's functionality?

Give it a rest, people. The need for a mac financial program on the mac to replace Quicken will become irrelvant once Leopard ships with Bootcamp built-in, or once virtualization programs get their act together. (Some people love Parallels, me unfortunately I can't get on the internet with it, making Quicken sync useless.)
antdude, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That blue background color was annoying.
brianamerige, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I find it a bit concerning that if I open up the plist file (~/Library/Preferences/com.midnightapps.ChaChing.plist), and change the "ShouldEncryptDatabase" BOOL to 'NO', I can totally bypass any passwords set.

Heh. I'm not a fan of this app.
wackymacs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0A good alternative to Quicken is FinanceToGo, which can import QIF files and generate reports and budgets.

http://www.fastforwardsw.com/products/financetogo/
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Cha-Ching: New OS X Quicken Killer

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